Plymouth Labour councillors' shocking attendance records revealed as they lead anti-mayor campaign

Councillor Charlotte Holloway, representing Drake ward, has attended just 8 out of 16 meetings she was required to attend since December 2024, achieving a concerningly low attendance rate of 50%.

Cllr Holloway has not been present as expected at the Scrutiny Management Board, Licensing Committee or Natural Infrastructure and Growth Committee meetings this year. Particularly concerning is her absence from the Natural Infrastructure and Growth Scrutiny Panel.

Meanwhile, Councillor Chris Cuddihee from Sutton and Mount Gould ward has attended 8 out of 14 required meetings, giving him a marginally better but still poor attendance rate of 57%.

Following Plymouth Plus investigations, it has emerged that Cllr Cuddihee is the named promoter of the 'Plymouth Knows Better' campaign, while our research has shown Cllr Holloway is a key Labour supporter of the campaign.

She regularly shares the posts on her own councillor Facebook page, devoting significant time to defending her record and attempting to improve Plymouth Labour's crumbling public image.

Labour-Controlled Council Under Scrutiny

Plymouth City Council is currently controlled by Labour, with the party holding 39 of the 57 councillor seats. The poor attendance of these Labour councillors raises questions about the party's commitment to the current local government system they are campaigning to preserve.

Questions Over Commitment and Compensation

The revelation raises questions about the councillors' commitment to their democratic responsibilities while simultaneously leading the campaign to maintain councillor-led governance.

Plymouth residents may reasonably ask how those who struggle to attend their own meetings can credibly argue for preserving a system where they hold significant influence over city leadership.

It also raises questions about whether these councillors receive their full allowances despite their poor attendance, or whether their compensation is reduced in line with their participation rates.

Campaign Leadership vs Council Duties

Both councillors appear to have found time for campaign activities while their attendance suggests a more casual approach to their elected duties.

The poor attendance records appear particularly ironic given that the 'Plymouth Knows Better' campaign argues that councillor representation provides better democratic leadership than a directly elected mayor would. Critics might suggest that if these councillors cannot consistently participate in the meetings they are elected to attend, it undermines their argument about councillor effectiveness.

Public Reaction

The poor attendance records have not gone unnoticed by Plymouth residents. One reader wrote in to Plymouth Plus suggesting new names for the councillors - dubbing them "Half-a-Job Holloway" and "Casual Cuddihee" in light of their shambolic meeting attendance records.

​Labour Councillor attendance statistics 05/12/2024 to 30/05/2025

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